THE COMPLETE STORIES OF FLANNERY O'CONNOR
by Flannery O'Connor
Noonday Press
ISBN: 0374515360
This book (well, collection of stories, but whatever, I'm in charge here) tops my list because it ranks as one of my all time favorites. But even if I weren't totally biased, it would still top my list because you can't escape formal education without reading at least O'Connor's most famous story, "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" (and if you do turn 25 and you still haven't read one of her stories, consider demanding a refund). Hilarious, dark, violent, satiric, ironic, and chock full of freaks and fools, O'Connor's work makes you realize that you don't have to know a bunch of fancy words to write truly remarkable stories.
MADAME BOVARY
by Gustav Flaubert
Bantam Classics
ISBN: 0553213415
Emma Bovary is a free spirit, ready to fall in love and have mad adventures. Unfortunately, she's been married off to a boring country doctor. Just because this is a classic, doesn't mean the prospect of reading it should send you into convulsive fits. Despite being old and French, Flaubert really knew how to write a wicked romance --- this book is better than General Hospital and twice as steamy and smart.
THE WOMAN WARRIOR: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts
by Maxine Hong Kingston
Vintage Books
ISBN: 0679721886
This deeply moving and affecting book focuses on a young Chinese-American woman as she grows up and tries to make her way in life. The "talk-stories" are wonderfully written and the sentiments of alienation will appeal to teens of all nationalities. Plus, if at some point in your life you decide to take a woman's lit. class, I guarantee you this book will be on the required reading list.
THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE
by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White
Allyn & Bacon
ISBN: 020530902X
Nope, it's not a work of fiction or a study of boot-cut vs. flare jeans. This little gem is a paper writing style guide and, MARK MY WORDS, it will fast replace Susie-what's-her-name as your new best friend. Forget about college, there are terms papers to write right now, and this timeless classic will help you master the art of clear, concise, persuasive writing.
THERE EYES WERE WATCHING GOD
by Zora Neale Hurston
Prentice Hall
ISBN: 0060931418
This heart-wrenching novel tells the story of Janie, a poor Black woman living during the Depression. Janie doesn't care what anyone thinks of her and her search for love will leave you with tears in your eyes and mascara all over your cheeks. This was a controversial book in it's day, and Hurston an important literary figure in the Harlem Renaissance during the 1930s.
LYSISTRATA (Dover Thrift Edition = very cheap!!)
by Aristophanes
Dover Pubns
ISBN: 0486282252
Sex, war, murder, deciet --- boy those Greeks sure know their comedy!! No really, this is one of the funniest, raunchiest plays in annals of Greek drama. Quick set up: the women of Athens decide to withold sex from their husband's until those meatheads wise up to the fact that war is stupid and peace is the answer. Of course, as is the want of all ancient Greek plays, things don't go exactly as planned. It's the original shout-out to gurrrl power!
THE COMMUNIST MANIFESTO
by Karl Marx
Signet Classic
ISBN: 0451527100
It's unavoidable. At some point in your young lives you'll be in an argument with someone who quotes Marx's famous argument for communisim. They may be a flaming socialist or a raging capitalist. They may be a total tool or really smart and cool. Either way, you'll want to be able to understand what the heck they are getting all excited about. Besides, familiarity with this slim but weighty masterpiece will get you lots of attention from the socially active set.
A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN (Dover Thrift Edition = very cheap!)
by James Joyce
Dover Pubns
ISBN: 0486280500
PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST (as those "in the know" refer to it) is Joyce's semi-autobiographical tale of a young man named Stephen Daedelus growing up Catholic in Dublin, Ireland. A coming-of-age story like no other, it's written in crazy, poetic language and meanders all over everywhere. It's a tough read, but you'll like it (or, if you're like me, love it).
THE COMPLETE POEMS OF EMILY DICKINSON
by Emily Dickinson
edited by Thomas H. Johnson
Little Brown & Co
ISBN: 0316184136
Don't let the brevity of Dickinson's verse or her frequent references to daisies trick you into thinking her poems are simple. (I did that once, and my teacher shot me down in a most humiliating way.) Dickinson achieves the kind of depth in a few stanzas what it takes other poets (ahem, Mr. Beowulf author person) pages to do. Not to mention the fact that she virtually revolutionized the hyphen (--) and the slash (/). If you are interested in reading America's first poets, and you don't feel like you can stomach anymore Walt Witman, take a look at this volume.
